Streamlabs Collab Cam: Setup Guide

Streamlabs Collab Cam lets you bring remote guests into your Streamlabs Desktop broadcast as a separate video source, so you can interview, co-stream, or just hang out on camera with someone who isn’t in the same room. This guide walks you through connecting a guest, adding them to your scene, and troubleshooting the most common issues. You’ll need Streamlabs Desktop installed and logged in, a stable internet connection, and your guest will need a browser and a link.

What You’ll Need

Streamlabs Desktop (latest version) installed and logged in
A stable internet connection (upload speed of at least 3 Mbps recommended)
Your guest: a computer, tablet, or phone with a modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and a camera/microphone
Optional but helpful: a second monitor to see the Collab Cam control window while you stream

Step-by-Step

Open Streamlabs Desktop and go to your main dashboard. Make sure you’re on the latest version—if you see a prompt to update, do that first.
Find the Collab Cam source. In the Sources box (usually bottom-left), click the + (plus) button. Scroll through the list until you see Collab Cam. If you don’t see it, check that you’re in the correct scene and that your Streamlabs is fully updated.
Add the source. Click Collab Cam, then click Add Source. A new window will open asking you to name the source (e.g., “Guest Cam”)—you can keep the default name or change it, then click Add Source again.
Generate an invite link. A Collab Cam window will pop up with a unique URL and a QR code. Click Copy Link to copy the invite URL to your clipboard.
Send the link to your guest. Paste the link into any messaging app (Discord, WhatsApp, email, etc.) and send it to the person you want on camera. They just need to open the link in a browser—no app install required.
Guest joins. When your guest opens the link, they’ll see a preview of their own camera. They should click Join (or Allow if the browser asks for camera/microphone permission). After a moment, they’ll appear in your Collab Cam window.
Position and resize the guest in your scene. Back in Streamlabs Desktop, you’ll see the guest’s video feed as a new source in your scene. Drag it to where you want it, and use the corner handles to resize. You can also add a border, crop, or apply filters like any other source.
Control the guest’s audio. By default, the guest’s microphone audio comes through the Collab Cam source. You can mute them by clicking the speaker icon next to the source in the Sources list, or adjust volume in the mixer. To let your audience hear them, make sure the source is not muted and the volume is set appropriately.
Go live. Once everything looks good, hit Go Live as usual. Your guest will be part of the stream. They can leave anytime by closing the browser tab or clicking Leave in their view.
End the call. When you’re done, you can either remove the Collab Cam source from your scene (right-click → Remove) or just stop the stream. The guest’s browser tab will show that the session has ended.

Common Mistakes

Not updating Streamlabs: Collab Cam is a relatively new feature; if you’re on an older version, you won’t see it in the sources list. Always update to the latest version.
Guest using an incompatible browser: Some older browsers or privacy modes block camera access. Have your guest switch to Chrome or Firefox and allow camera/mic permissions.
Forgetting to adjust audio: The guest’s mic might be too quiet or too loud. Check the mixer levels before going live.
Placing the guest source behind other sources: If the guest doesn’t appear, they might be hidden behind a full-screen overlay or another source. Right-click the source and select Bring to Front.
Not testing before going live: Always do a quick test with a friend to check video/audio quality and latency before your actual stream.

Tips

Use a wired connection for your streaming PC: Collab Cam adds extra network load; a wired Ethernet connection is more stable than Wi-Fi.
Ask your guest to use headphones: This prevents echo or feedback if they have speakers on.
Set a scene specifically for interviews: Create a scene with your camera and the Collab Cam source side-by-side, so you can switch to it cleanly.
Add a border or background: Use a browser source or image to frame the guest’s video for a more professional look.
Use the QR code for local guests: If your guest is in the same room, they can scan the QR code with their phone to join quickly.
Monitor the guest’s video: Keep the Collab Cam window open on a second monitor to see what your audience sees, and catch any issues early.

Troubleshooting

Guest can’t join (page loads but no video): Have them check that they clicked Allow on the camera/mic permission prompt. If it was blocked, they need to refresh the page and re-allow. Also, make sure no other app (like Zoom) is using the camera.
Guest appears but no audio: Check the mixer in Streamlabs Desktop—the Collab Cam source might be muted. Also, ask the guest to check their mic input in the browser (they should see a level indicator). If they’re using a laptop with multiple mics, they might need to select the correct one in the browser’s settings.
Video is laggy or freezing: This is usually a network issue. Ask the guest to close other bandwidth-heavy tabs/apps. You can also lower the video quality in the Collab Cam window (there’s a settings gear icon) to reduce bandwidth usage.
Collab Cam source is missing from the list: Restart Streamlabs Desktop. If it still doesn’t appear, uninstall and reinstall the app, or check the official Streamlabs website for the latest version.
Guest’s video is upside down or mirrored: In the Collab Cam window, there’s a settings icon where you can flip or rotate the video. Ask the guest to adjust it on their end, or you can right-click the source and use Transform → Flip Horizontal in Streamlabs.
Cannot compute (guest left mid-stream): The source will show a black screen or a “reconnecting” message. Ask the guest to refresh the page and rejoin using the same link. If that fails, generate a new invite link and send it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my guest need to create a Streamlabs account?

No, your guest just opens the link in a browser. No account or app installation is needed.

Can I have more than one guest in Collab Cam?

Collab Cam currently supports one guest per source. To add multiple guests, you would need to add multiple Collab Cam sources, each with its own invite link, but this may affect performance.

Can I use Collab Cam on a console or mobile?

Collab Cam is a feature of Streamlabs Desktop (Windows and Mac). You can’t use it directly on console, but your guest can join from a mobile browser.

What’s the maximum resolution for Collab Cam?

The video quality depends on your and your guest’s internet connection. Streamlabs typically uses 720p or 1080p, but it may downscale automatically to maintain stability.

Can I record the guest’s video separately?

No, Collab Cam only provides a video source within your scene. To record separately, you would need to use a third-party tool like OBS’s multi-track recording or a separate screen capture.

Is Collab Cam free?

Yes, Collab Cam is included in Streamlabs Desktop at no extra cost, as long as you have a free Streamlabs account.

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